Hi, all, and happy Monday! I’m still recovering from being sick, so won’t write a long opening today. Just this: thank you for being here. We have a lot of work to do, and there’s no one with whom I’d rather be doing it. This work can and will make an enormous difference in the America we’ll wake up to in one year, five years, and even twenty years.
I, too, read the NYT article on exploitation of migrant children and am greatly disturbed by all the companies that "employ" them. Seems like some boycotts of goods is in order 😈 And thanks for the heads up on Medicare Advantage - which I can't stand anyhow - and communicate templates.
After trying to figure out what was going on with the proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage plans, I submitted the following comment. I tried to incorporate all 3 comments into one, as I thought they were all important. Not sure I captured the correct technicalities of the proposed regulations, but this was my best shot given time constraints involved in helping take care of my grandchild. 😂
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has reported that the excess payments in Medicare Advantage plans are $27 billion this year alone, six percent higher than Traditional Medicare while other reports have estimated that they are closer to 20 percent higher than that. These excess overpayments are threatening the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have not been provided the efficiencies of the private sector as originally promised when the legislation was proposed and written. In order to keep the Trust Fund solvent and keep Medicare Part B premiums from being raised unnecessarily due to the ineffectiveness of MA plans, I support the CMS proposed 1 percent rate increase for these plans in 2024. With regards to the proposed rate increase, I could not locate an analysis that the 1 percent will cover the additional MA plan expenditures that will be sought to replace revenue received from previous overpayments that will no longer occur with the proposed revisions to MA coding regulations that now eliminate the intentional or unintentional discretionary coding variation or inappropriate coding that has been occurring.
Wishing you well soon!! I am hesitant to support Medicare Advantage plans in any way. It is my understanding that while these plans are aggressively promoted to consumers, they actually cover fewer medical procedures and medications than "regular" medicare. And--at least in the NYC area there are far fewer providers who accept medicare advantage patients. And contracts are being transferred to Medicare advantage plans without making it clear to subscribers that their coverage will be reduced.....
Before the Wisconsin Supreme Court primary I phone banked with this organization and found the platform easy to use and the trainer great. Highly recommended!
Win Races—fight voter suppression! 👊🏼
Make calls to Black and Brown voters in Wisconsin who are specifically targeted by voter suppression efforts with the Center For Common Ground.
I, too, read the NYT article on exploitation of migrant children and am greatly disturbed by all the companies that "employ" them. Seems like some boycotts of goods is in order 😈 And thanks for the heads up on Medicare Advantage - which I can't stand anyhow - and communicate templates.
After trying to figure out what was going on with the proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage plans, I submitted the following comment. I tried to incorporate all 3 comments into one, as I thought they were all important. Not sure I captured the correct technicalities of the proposed regulations, but this was my best shot given time constraints involved in helping take care of my grandchild. 😂
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has reported that the excess payments in Medicare Advantage plans are $27 billion this year alone, six percent higher than Traditional Medicare while other reports have estimated that they are closer to 20 percent higher than that. These excess overpayments are threatening the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have not been provided the efficiencies of the private sector as originally promised when the legislation was proposed and written. In order to keep the Trust Fund solvent and keep Medicare Part B premiums from being raised unnecessarily due to the ineffectiveness of MA plans, I support the CMS proposed 1 percent rate increase for these plans in 2024. With regards to the proposed rate increase, I could not locate an analysis that the 1 percent will cover the additional MA plan expenditures that will be sought to replace revenue received from previous overpayments that will no longer occur with the proposed revisions to MA coding regulations that now eliminate the intentional or unintentional discretionary coding variation or inappropriate coding that has been occurring.
Wishing you well soon!! I am hesitant to support Medicare Advantage plans in any way. It is my understanding that while these plans are aggressively promoted to consumers, they actually cover fewer medical procedures and medications than "regular" medicare. And--at least in the NYC area there are far fewer providers who accept medicare advantage patients. And contracts are being transferred to Medicare advantage plans without making it clear to subscribers that their coverage will be reduced.....
Before the Wisconsin Supreme Court primary I phone banked with this organization and found the platform easy to use and the trainer great. Highly recommended!
Win Races—fight voter suppression! 👊🏼
Make calls to Black and Brown voters in Wisconsin who are specifically targeted by voter suppression efforts with the Center For Common Ground.
Thank you Jess. Especially for the area concerning the Medicare Advantage proposal. I am copying
1 of the comments you posted and
adding some additional thoughts.
This is important for us to take part
in. Wisconsin also.
Victoria - I'm having trouble understanding the MA proposal. Who is the 1% rate increase for?
My understanding at this point, is it
is for the Medicare Advantage plan.
This will lock them down to being
able to increase their premium by
only 1%, instead of say 20% which can be hefty. It will in effect also
cut down on M/Care Part B cost
taken out of SS. Any cost of living
increase I get, except this year, is
reduced to a few dollars by Part B
increase.
Frankly and personally, I have felt
Medicare made a big mistake in
allowing all these "other" insurance
companies to have any part in our
Healthcare.
thank you!